How will World Cup weather delays work? FIFA lightning regulations explained | OneFootball

Mother nature set to play a distinct role in the tournament

Of all the various off-pitch narratives which will dominate this World Cup will be the weather. Aside from the heat, rain and lightning will play a central role.

For followers of last summer’s Club World Cup, it will not be an unfamiliar phenomenon. Chelsea’s round-of-16 tie against Benfica was paused four minutes from time and subject to a lengthy delay after lightning was detected locally, eventually finishing four-and-a-half hours after it had kicked off.

What is FIFA’s severe weather policy?

FIFA does not have a severe weather policy of its own - it must adhere to regulations imposed by local authorities.

And those authorities take a no-nonsense approach, particularly when lightning is concerned.

Chelsea’s Club World Cup match against Benfica was delayed for several hours

AFP via Getty Images

Any match will be suspended if lightning is detected within eight miles of a stadium, and met with a delay of at least half an hour.

All players must leave the pitch, and all fans must leave the stands.

It may not resume until a full thirty minutes has passed with no lightning detected within that eight-mile radius.

How long can matches be delayed?

FIFA have no hard-and-fast cut-off point at which they would suspend a match.

Decisions as to when matches will be formally called off will be based on getting supporters home safely.

If a match has to be postponed due to weather, it would most likely be resumed the following day, picking up from the exact point at which it was stopped. If a match was stopped with 65 minutes played, teams would return to complete the remaining 35.

It remains to be seen how FIFA will approach weather delays in matches due to be played simultaneously with another, such as the final round in the group stage.